A NOTORIOUS box junction in Fulham has come under fire from drivers who claim it is a 'cash trap'.

Figures obtained by the Chronicle show the number of penalties handed out at the junction of Harwood Terrace and New King's Road doubled in 2010/11 - to more than 40 a day.

Drivers say it is almost impossible to get through the traffic lights without stopping in the yellow box.

They claim that the lights draw them into the box and then trap them as they are often left unable to move because of traffic.

If caught in the junction, drivers can be fined a minimum of £65, which they feel is unjust.

Musician Jonathan Majin, was fined last month.

He said: "I don't believe I caused any obstruction nor hindrance to any other road user. The £65 penalty is an offensive and shocking some of money, giving I was just driving with care under difficult rush-hour conditions. I went back to the site to see if there was any clue to why I had received this penalty, and was instantly amazed that drivers are frequently lured into the yellow box and trapped there by traffic lights. It is a complex, confusing and unclear junction. There is something very amiss with this set of junctions and with the management of traffic there."

The junction has gained notoriety among motorists using online forums and blogs, who have also been stung with fines.

On the forum section of the Pistonheads website, user CraigW, wrote: "So for years on my route to work there is a bit of road I pass in Chelsea whereby there is a box junction with lights on either side. Because of the way the lights work, its impossible to get through the lights without either stopping on the junction or hammering through as the lights change to red. The problem is, that when my lights go green, the traffic from the other direction has completely filled the road up until the box junction, that traffic only clears once their lights have been changed by which time mine have gone red again."

In the forum section of the consumer action group website, a whole thread is dedicated to appealing fines issued in what is referred to as 'money box junction'.

Through a freedom of information request, the Chronicle that the number of penalty charge notices issued to drivers for stopping on the box junction more than doubled in the last financial year.

There were 15,860 motorists penalised in 2010/11 compared to 7,806 in the previous year.

This would have generated at least £1million in revenue for the council.

Deputy council leader, Nick Botterill, said: "Box junctions are necessary and improve the flow of traffic by deterring a minority of drivers and causing unnecessary congestion. We have made every effort to improve traffic flow through this junction - last year we widened the exit lanes to increase the capacity and Transport for London, which is responsible for the traffic lights, has optimised the signal timings. Our operators follow strict national guidance when enforcing box junctions and all penalty notices are issued on robust grounds, making sure a vital stretch of road is kept clear and traffic in the area can continue to flow."